Archive for the ‘USB Audio Interface’ Category

Look out, Akai APC40. There’s another contender in the emerging Controller With Lots of Buttons And Also Faders and Knobs and Crossfader product category. Livid’s Ohm64 combines the light-up button grid with faders, knobs, trigger buttons, and most importantly, unique customization options and a lovely wooden case. What’s unique about this one:

Fully class-compliant, no drivers (also true of the APC as far as I know, but nice – and ideal for Linux, too, in case you want to run this with a netbook or a Pd-running souped-up *nix laptop)

Open-source, customizable MIDI talkback: when you’re ready to customize just how those LEDs light up, there are included open source tools and fully programmable MIDI mapping

Bonus: it comes with a powerful, full-featured VJ app in the box, Cell DNA, though of course you can use it with anything you like.

The real story to me is the customization. Whereas the APC40 is entirely proprietary in design, has evidently limited MIDI mappings, and a mysterious mechanism for programming two-way communication, the Ohm64 is open, open source, and software-agnostic. If the open source thing catches on, that could mean a community of friendly folk thinking of smart ways to reprogram this thing for different apps. Ironically, that means that in the long run, the Ohm64 could wind up with better Ableton Live integration than the hardware Ableton chose to back – though all bets are off until we get these devices in our hands.

I would say the APC is probably more direct competition for the Ohm64 than the Monome, despite the 8×8 light-up buttons. The Monome is much lighter and slimmer, it takes a minimalist approach (no big knobs or faders), and uses OpenSoundControl in place of MIDI. The Ohm64 seems likely to appeal to those who weren’t Monome fans, and visa versa. And some lucky ducks are naturally going to own both.

But the important thing is that the Ohm64 joins the Monome in its crusade for open-source customization of a commercial product. Whatever the Ohm64 is when it ships, it’s that question of what people can do with it that may determine its real value. I have no doubt people will be reverse engineering the APC40, too — starting with figuring out how to fake the hardware “handshake” it uses so other devices can emulate it in Live. But it’ll be interesting to see how these different philosophies pan out, so to speak.

Setup is a snap! The Blue Icicle works with both dynamic and condenser microphones, providing high quality and hassle-free connectivity with Mac or PC. Whether you’re using a microphone for digital recording, podcasting, voice messaging, or voice recognition applications, the Icicle is the quick and easy way to get connected.

Blue Icicle XLR to USB Mic Converter/Mic Preamp Specifications:

Sample/Word: 44.1K/16 bit

Power Consumption: 200mA (from USB bus)

System Requirements:

Macintosh: Mac OSX with USB 1.0 or 2.0 and 64 MB RAM (minimum)

Windows: XP Home Edition, Professional or Vista with USB 1.0 or 2.0 and 64 MB RAM (minimum)

THE ONLY DRUMMER-FRIENDLY CONTROLLER
Just plug the Trigger|iO interface into your Mac or PC’s USB port, load up the included copy of FXpansion BFD Lite, and you’re ready to play. Because USB Pro Drum Kit is MIDI compatible, you can track a performance, and then go back afterward and tweak your sounds. Try that with acoustic drums!

USB Pro Drum Kit also opens up a new world of software including BFD, Toontrack, and Reason to drummers and producers looking for realistic drum performances.

ADVANCED DRUM PADS
USB Pro Drum Kit’s acoustic-feeling drum pads are built around 8? mylar drumheads and acoustic-dampening foam for quiet response. The snare and tom pads are dual-zone, enabling rimshot or rim-click sounds on the snare and additional sounds such as wind chimes, cymbals, gongs, and cowbells on the tom rims.

When they wear out, the drumheads can be replaced with any model you choose from any manufacturer. The heads are tunable with a standard drum key for adjustable tension and feel. The triple-flanged counterhoops are covered in removable, sound-reducing rubber sleeves, which further cut acoustic noise.

USB Pro Drum Kit includes a self-standing kick tower, to which any model of single or double-bass-drum pedal can be attached. The kick pad also features a tunable, 8? mylar playing surface.

CYMBALS WITH BUILT-IN TRIGGERS
USB Pro Drum Kit comes with our top-of-the-line SURGE Cymbal Pack with choke: the only serious choice in cymbals for triggering electronics. The kit comes with a 12? SURGE Hi-Hat Cymbal, a 13? SURGE Crash Cymbal with choke, and a 16? SURGE dual-zone Ride Cymbal with choke. Based around a true brass-alloy cymbal and coated with a clear sound-dampening layer, SURGE Cymbals feel like acoustic cymbals because they begin life as just that. The Crash and Ride cymbals feature large choke strips on the undersides for even more attention to accurate cymbal control. The Ride features dual-zone triggers for bell-clanging nuance. And the SURGE Hi-Hat Cymbal is continuously controllable using the included pedal.

SURE-GRIP HARDWARE
The fully adjustable rack is built of 1?-inch metal tubing, which is standard throughout the drum industry. It’s easy to expand USB Pro Drum Kit with any manufacturer’s clamps and mounts. All necessary clamps, professional ?-inch cables, and mounting hardware are included. All clamps adjust with the included drum key. Pad-mounting L-arms feature non-round arms to eliminate slippage from playing. All of the hardware on USB Pro Drum Kit is designed for sure grip and extensive adjustability.

No other drumset blends the realistic feel and touch, with the sonic and creative flexibility USB Pro Drum Kit.

LR16 is 16/4/2 live mixer with built-in 16-track recorder at the most affordable price point in the market offering flexible use in the shape of regular MTR unit or separated I/O Box and Controller Box with just CAT5 cable connection being engineered by Fostex’ superb HD recorder experience and state-of-the-art digital mixer technology.

Main Features

Connector Box (recorder + I/O) and Controller (mixer section) can be flexibly separated via off-the-shelf CAT5 cable up to 50m. Just one cable from I/O box on the stage to the F.O.H. mixer controller instead of heavy and expensive snake cable.

M-Audio steals the show with advanced new MIDI controllers, groundbreaking software and more.

With everything from advanced new MIDI controllers and powerful mastering software to a full unveiling of the powerful Torq® 1.5 DJ program, M-Audio is making waves at this year’s Winter NAMM show. New offerings include the Axiom® Pro controllers, Ozone 4 software, DMP3 preamp, Torq 1.5 DJ software and Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8. If you can’t make it to the show floor to check out these exciting new products, read on for the full story.

DMP3 Dual Microphone/Instrument Preamp
Based on M-Audio preamplifier technology that won Pro Audio Review’s highest accolades, the updated DMP3 preamp is designed to provide a premium front end for today’s high-resolution digital recording systems. It features an amazing 20Hz to 80kHz frequency response, 67dB of gain and an exceptional dynamic range to capture all the nuances of your music—plus a redesigned new look.

Pro Tools M-Powered 8 M-Audio Compatible World Class Production Software
A revolutionary new way to work with Pro Tools software. Streamlined, customizable interface along with many new production tools and creative options: work with up to 48 stereo audio tracks; create five new A.I.R. instruments and 30 more plug-in effects; Sibelius-engined Score Editor; new MIDI Editor; Elastic Pitch real-time pitch transposer. …

No batteries. No latency. No headaches. Just plug in and record.

MicPort Pro from CEntrance is a 24-bit/96kHz broadcast quality USB mic preamp used by the BBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and voiceover professionals. MicPort Pro is your mic-to-computer audio interface, compatible with Windows XP/Vista, Mac OS X 10.4 and above, and LINUX. MicPort Pro features 48V phantom power, a loud headphone output for zero latency monitoring, and aggregation that allows you to record in stereo with two MicPort Pro units. Even test & measurement guys love it with MicPort Pro’s SMAART v.6 compatibility.

No batteries. No latency. No headaches. Just plug in and record.

Andy Hong in TapeOp

“The biggest headaches we get trying to capture that elusive, magic moment always stem from fear of a poor recording. MicPort Pro is a permanent cure for that headache.”

“If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and very portable mic’ing system with high-quality sound for your laptop or desktop, the MicPort Pro should be on your shortlist…”

Harlan Hogan and Jeffrey Fisher in their book,
Voice Actor’s Guide to Recording at Home

“Now, any mic you own or purchase in the future can be a USB mic. The preamp is clean, clear and natural sounding, and the A/D audio interface is quiet so you record your voice, not the electronics. This is one amazingly handy device at an equally amazing low price.”

Tom Phillips in Post

“I set up a test comparing it [MicPort Pro] to a Grace Design 201 preamp recording into Cakewalk Sonar 6 on my PC, and then replayed the same parts using the same microphones fed through the MicPort Pro and Garage Band. For microphones I used a Neumann U87 (condenser) and a Coles 4038 (ribbon). In general, I would say that the MicPort Pro compared incredibly well. At times it was difficult to hear any difference at all.”

Record Anytime, Anywhere

At home or on the road, MicPort Pro’s compact, USB-powered design offers maximum audio fidelity and minimal system configuration. Protected by a rugged chassis, MicPort Pro’s Class A preamp and low-noise circuitry preserves high-quality audio.

Finally, a USB mic that’s not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Meet the Snowball; the world’s first professional USB mic.

Whether you’re recording a guitar at your kitchen table or a complete band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of before in a USB mic.

The Snowball is a direct plug n’ play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC — no additional software is needed. With its dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band” and it’s ideal for podcasting. Check it out and you’ll see why it’s the coolest mic in town.

Technical Specs

Transducer Type:

Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output

Polar Pattern:

Omnidirectional or Cardioid

Frequency Response:

Position 1-3: 40-18kHz

Sample/Word Rate:

44.1 kHz/16 bit

Weight:

460g

Dimensions:

325mm (circumference)

Say hello to the Snowflake, the first professional totally portable USB mic.

Whether you’re recording your newest podcast, talking business on the web, or just narrating your latest great family movie, the Snowflake can capture it with amazing clarity and depth that’s head and shoulders above any comparable portable USB on the market!

The Snowflake works on both Mac and PC with no complicated drivers to install: just connect it to your computer’s USB port, follow the prompts and you’ll have high-fidelity sound in no time. It’s perfect for podcasting, voice recognition software, iChat, and VoIP software such as Skype and Vonage. Or use it for dictation, field recording, lecture recording, and narration for slideshows and PowerPoint presentations. The sky’s the limit. It’s even great for recording music via GarageBand and other multitrack recording software.

Designed with the traveler in mind, the Snowflake’s unique design allows you to place it on a desk or flat surface near your computer, or mount it to the screen of most laptops. Because it simply connects to your USB port, it offers a wide range of applications coupled with an ease of use never before offered in a professional-quality microphone. In the tradition of Blue’s line of renowned studio microphones, the Snowflake features Blue’s superior proprietary capsule and circuit design, optimized to make sure that you always get the best sound possible into your computer, and sets a new standard for digital recording on the go!

Suggested Applications

Technical Specs

Transducer Type:

Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output

Polar Pattern:

Cardioid

Sample/Word Rate:

44.1 kHz/16 bit

Frequency Response:

35Hz â€“ 20kHz

COMING SOON……..

The Icicle is Blue’s new stylish USB converter and mic preamp combo that allows you to connect any XLR microphonedirectly into your computer via USB! The Icicle features a studio quality microphone preamp, 48V phantom power, fully balanced low noise front end, analog gain control, and driverless operation. Setup is a snap! The Icicle works with both dynamic and condenser microphones, providing high quality and hassle-free connectivity with Mac or PC. Whether you’re using amicrophone for digital recording, podcasting, voice messaging, or voice recognition applications, the Icicle is the quick andeasy way to get connected.